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Morocco Sets Stage for Continental Glory as Africa Cup of Nations Kicks Off
The Africa Cup of Nations begins Sunday in Morocco, with the host nation aiming to showcase its growing soccer prowess while laying groundwork for its role as a 2030 World Cup co-host. This prestigious four-week tournament features 24 teams competing across nine newly built or renovated stadiums in six Moroccan cities.
Morocco enters the competition as one of the favorites following their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals, the first African nation to achieve such a feat. The Atlas Lions are seeking just their second continental title, having last won in 1976.
The kingdom has embarked on one of the most ambitious infrastructure programs in African sporting history, viewing this tournament as a high-visibility dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup. This substantial investment in stadiums and facilities reflects Morocco’s determination to establish itself as a global soccer powerhouse.
Defending champion Ivory Coast returns after a remarkable run to the title as host in the previous edition. Nigeria, which lost in the last final, aims to claim the trophy this time around. Sadio Mané’s Senegal returns to defend their 2021 championship, while Egypt hopes speculation over Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future won’t derail their quest for a record-extending eighth continental crown.
Morocco’s hosting opportunity emerged after Guinea was stripped of the 2025 tournament in 2022 due to inadequate infrastructure and facilities. The tournament was initially scheduled for summer but was postponed to avoid clashing with FIFA’s new Club World Cup competition. This scheduling shuffle continues a trend of adjustments that has seen every Africa Cup since 2013 moved because of problems with the original host.
The Atlas Lions begin their campaign against Comoros in the newly constructed 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday. Group A also includes Mali and Zambia. Group B features a high-profile clash between Egypt and South Africa, while Angola and Zimbabwe will attempt to upset the favorites.
Nigeria headlines Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Group D sees Senegal battling with Congo, Benin, and Botswana. Algeria faces pressure in Group E after a disappointing group-stage exit last time, competing against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan. Group F features a clash between defending champion Ivory Coast and five-time winner Cameroon, whose preparations have been disrupted by coaching controversies involving federation president Samuel Eto’o.
Four-time champions Ghana failed to qualify for this edition, a significant absence from the continental showcase. The tournament format will see the top two teams from each group, plus the four best third-place finishers, advancing to the knockout stage.
Star power abounds across the tournament. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi’s face dominates advertising displays throughout Rabat, though questions remain about his recovery from an ankle injury. Mohamed Salah enters the tournament amid speculation about his Liverpool future, seeking his first Africa Cup title after near misses in 2017 and 2022.
Victor Osimhen remains crucial to Nigeria’s hopes, with the Galatasaray forward looking to redeem a national team that failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo will be key for Cameroon, while Yan Diomande is expected to shine for Ivory Coast following his impressive performances for RB Leipzig.
The tournament will be broadcast globally, with beIN Sports holding rights in the United States, Canada, France, and numerous other countries. “AFCON is a fantastic international tournament that is only gaining greater recognition on the world footballing stage,” said Richard Verow, beIN’s chief sports officer. European viewers can catch the action on Channel 4 in the UK, Movistar in Spain, Sportdigital in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and Sport Italia in Italy.
As the tournament unfolds over the next month, Morocco hopes to capitalize on home advantage while demonstrating its readiness to host major international sporting events, furthering its ambitions as an emerging global soccer force.
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14 Comments
Kudos to Morocco for making such a major investment in infrastructure and facilities for this tournament. It’s a bold statement of intent as they eye a future World Cup bid. The pressure will be on the home team to deliver, but the spectacle should be fantastic for fans across Africa.
Exciting to see the return of this prestigious African soccer tournament. The continent is brimming with so much talent, and events like this really help to shine a spotlight on the incredible skills of these players. Can’t wait to see some of the up-and-coming stars make their mark.
Exciting to see Morocco hosting this prestigious African soccer tournament. They’ve made huge investments in infrastructure, hoping to showcase their capabilities as a future World Cup host. Curious to see if the home team can finally win their second continental title.
The Africa Cup of Nations always produces some thrilling soccer. With the defending champions Ivory Coast and strong contenders like Nigeria and Senegal in the mix, I’m expecting plenty of drama and quality play on the pitch. Hopefully the host country can also put on a great show for the fans.
It’s exciting to see the return of this major African soccer tournament. The continent is brimming with so much talent, and events like this really help to shine a spotlight on the incredible skills of these players. Can’t wait to see some of the up-and-coming stars make their mark.
Absolutely, the Africa Cup of Nations is a fantastic platform for young African players to showcase their abilities on the big stage. It will be great to see the next generation of stars emerge.
Defending champions Ivory Coast will be a strong contender, as will Nigeria who were finalists last time. And of course Senegal with star player Sadio Mané will be looking to lift the trophy. Should make for some thrilling matches!
It’s great to see this tournament back in action after the pandemic disruptions. Africa has so much soccer talent, and these big competitions really showcase the passion and skill of the continent’s players. Can’t wait to see some memorable goals and upsets over the next month.
Interesting that Morocco is using this as a trial run for a potential 2030 World Cup co-hosting role. The facilities and organization will certainly be put to the test. It will be fascinating to see if they can pull off a successful tournament and build momentum for a future World Cup bid.
I’m always impressed by the infrastructure projects that host countries undertake for major tournaments like this. Morocco has really gone all-out, which should provide an excellent platform for the teams to perform. Curious to see if the investment pays off in terms of fan engagement and a successful event.
The Africa Cup of Nations always produces some thrilling soccer. With the defending champions Ivory Coast and strong contenders like Nigeria and Senegal in the mix, I’m expecting plenty of drama and quality play on the pitch. Hopefully the host country can also put on a great show for the fans.
The return of the Africa Cup of Nations is exciting news for fans across the continent. With the host country aiming to use this as a dress rehearsal for a future World Cup bid, the stakes are high. Will Morocco’s ambitious plans come to fruition, or will another team steal the show?
Interesting that Morocco is positioning this tournament as a warm-up for a potential 2030 World Cup bid. The infrastructure upgrades and facilities they’ve built will certainly be put to the test. Curious to see how the matches unfold and whether the host nation can rise to the occasion.
Yes, it will be a great opportunity for Morocco to showcase their capabilities as a future World Cup host. The level of investment they’ve made is really impressive.